Am I getting my money's worth by starting cloth diapering (with pocket diapers) at age 18 mo?

[lkmiscnet]

I'm considering switching from disposables for my DS (weighs 21 lbs), but am wondering exactly how cost effective it would be using pockets dipes at this late stage, knowing that potty training is somewhere on the horizon next year. While there are ecological benefits, I'm wondering if I would be saving in the end.

We currently are in Pampers size 2-3, but are weeks away from outgrowing them. So, not sure about Cruisers. Plus, I don't like the Drymax Pampers came out with....

The pockets I am looking at are expensive ($18), but the most like disposables. I have been looking at the Thirsties Duo Diapers (which includes the inserts).

When do most toddlers potty train?

Also, at what stage do they start using "pull ups"?  Is that generally while or after potty training?

[littlemizflava]

pull-ups are used when potty learning. if you are thinking a year in diapers that is along time. first off you would have to deside how many CD you would need a day and how often you would be washing. put that amount to how much you are paying for sposies and see if it is worth it. you could also be open to other diapers maybe one cheaper. if you are going to have more kids then 18 each would for sure be worth it. if you got second hand or seconds ones it would be cheaper.

[Lynda&Jenna]

With Black Friday specials you will be saving.  You can shop around and see who has deals.  Thirsties are great or you could go with a hybrid system lile flip and you change the insert and the cover every 3rd change unless soiled.  Another really economical diapering system is the econobum.  You can get the kit, it comes with 12 prefolds and 3 covers and 1 wet bag.  

Cloth diapering is great plus you can use it on other babies : ) Happy Thanksgiving!

Lynda

[Ola_]

Also keep in mind the resale value.  I bought some of our upcoming kiddos diapers on our local craigslist and paid a little less than 50% of their brand new cost.  Depending on the type of diapers and how long you use them, you can get a pretty good chunk back.

[lkmiscnet]

On average, up until what age is a toddler in diapers? I'm a first time clueless mom!

Is there a version of CD used during the potty training phase or do you just use what you've been using? With sposies, they have pull ups...

After they are potty trained, do you just put them in regular underwear or is there something else they wear in case of the occasional accident? What about nighttime, when accidents are more likely to happen? Would you use some variation of a CD?

Where are there Black Friday sales on CDs??!!

[starling&diesel]

How about craigslist?  That's where I've gotten my Fuzzi Bunz.  If you buy One Size, then you can use them from early on with other children.  If you get sized, then you can use them on other children as well.  The only issue you might have is sizing.  At 18 months, my DD still fit her medium pocket dipes, but at 22 months, we're looking at moving to larges. 

[Virginia884]

Take this advice as a child-care worker, not as a parent- most of our kids potty learn sometime between 2-3. Sometimes they are really early in their 2s, and every so often they take longer. Pull-ups are used during potty learning, but can work against you, because the kids just go in the pull-up like they would a diaper. Underwear are better. Pull-ups go out the window once they potty learn, unless they are still having issues during nap time or overnight. 

As far as sales go, I found sales at cottonbabies.com and at diaperjunction.com. I'm sure there are more if you hunt around! 

[Ola_]

Originally Posted by lkmiscnet 
Where are there Black Friday sales on CDs??!!

I don't know if I'm allowed to post links to other boards here, but they have a list of sales on DiaperSwappers.com:

http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1112563
 

[BreakfastyMichele]

My daughter was ready to toilet train at 20 months.  When we started, I had her in Gerber trainers (cloth underpants with a thicker middle) and I added a plastic pant when we left the house.  Pullups extend the learning, because kids don't know they're wet.

If you plan to have more kids, it would be economical to switch to cloth.  If economics are your only concern and you don't plan to have more kids, stick with disposables.

[Carma]

You could find some good deal on pockets. Use the pockets with a thin cotton inlays (so they feel wet) as a training pant when he is ready for that.

Our DD potty learned in her 2s, but was still wet every night for about 8 months after that.

Carma

[maisiedotes]

We bought used diapers and re-sold them.  It ended up not costing us much at all.  Also, if you go the prefold route, you can get out of it pretty cheaply.  We switched to sposies for a short time and I hated spending the money but our washer was on the fritz... we found a CD store with PFs for $1.15 each and since we went to the store there was no shipping to pay.  Shipping can get pricey on dipes, I find. 

Good luck!